43 – All of Your Misdeeds Are Exposed (Zamaa)

Before the coachman could even open the door, Freesia flung it open herself and rushed out. She was dressed in a light blue, short-length dress perfect for a casual outing, paired with lace-up boots designed for easy movement.

As the sunlight caught Freesia’s silver hair, it shimmered with an almost ethereal glow, as if she were the brightest thing in the world.

But as she hurried toward me, she stumbled just before reaching me.

I caught her easily in my arms. Her body felt soft and light, almost like holding a stuffed toy.

According to the original story, I’m supposed to break off my engagement with her. So I wanted to keep any contact minimal. But there’s something about her—this fragile aura she gives off—that makes me want to take care of her despite everything.

“Why have you come here? If I had let a monster escape, you wouldn’t have gotten off so lightly…”

“You’re worried about me, aren’t you?”

“I-I am not worried about you!”

“I had faith, you know. That Brad-sama would never be defeated by monsters. And that you would always return to me.”

“Then you should’ve stayed in the capital and waited.”

“I couldn’t wait… A life without you, Brad-sama, is unimaginable to me now…”

“Stop with this nonsense… We’re leaving.”

“Brad-sama…”

I released her, gently pushing her away by her shoulders. Freesia placed her hand on her chest, looking at me with a sorrowful expression.

“Omonel, Sontak,Kobiul! I’ll be riding in Freesia’s carriage. Take care of my horse.”

The three of them nodded deeply in response.

“What are you waiting for? Get in.” 

“Yes!”

As I gripped the railing of the carriage, I extended my hand to her. Freesia’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she grasped my hand tightly.

“S-stop it! Even though we’re in a carriage, we’re in public. Don’t go kissing me.”

“By riding in the carriage with me, I’m sure that’s what Brad-sama intended too. Besides, being in the carriage… I’m starting to feel itchy and horny.”

Girls shouldn’t say things like “I’m horny”!

On the way home, I desperately tried to persuade Freesia so that she wouldn’t learn something naughty like car s*x…

――――The Royal Capital.

Summoned to the palace, I was finishing up a report on the monster subjugation. With an intelligence stat of only five, I wasn’t sure I could manage, but it seemed like low intelligence only really affected my ability to cast spells.

After successfully completing the report, a civil servant came to collect it. Soon after, I found myself in the throne room where my otherworldly father, King Bismarck VIII, awaited.

“Hahaha! Father! I was the one who handled the monster subjugation this time. Brad showed up late and completely missed it. He’s such an idiot, isn’t he?”

As expected, Siegfried stood in front of King Bismarck VIII, proudly boasting about what was essentially my accomplishment, as if it were his own. To be able to flaunt someone else’s achievements like this—it almost seemed like a talent in itself.

King Bismarck VIII took a look at my report, then walked over to Siegfried, taking his hand.

“I see. Well done, Siegfried…”

But something felt off.

Even though his son had supposedly accomplished great things, King Bismarck VIII offered only brief praise to Siegfried, all while keeping his head lowered.

Then, suddenly, he lifted his head, his brows furrowing into a fierce scowl, his expression like a raging inferno as he glared at Siegfried.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out, you fool of a son!? Everything has reached my ears—your lies included!!!”

“Eek!?” 

Siegfried was so startled by his father’s sudden reprimand that he collapsed to the ground.

“Siegfried, you spread the rumor that Brad had committed sexual assault against Freesia without her consent, didn’t you? Well, we now have someone who can testify to the truth and expose your lies!”

King Bismarck VIII called out to one of his aides, and to my surprise, an unexpected figure entered the throne room, looking humbled and nervous.

“Ga-Gile!?”

“So you were royalty!?”

Gile and I pointed at each other in surprise. Realizing the gesture was rude, Gile quickly odlowered his hand and knelt.

“How did you figure out I was royalty…?”

“You dropped your handkerchief… I thought maybe, so I went to return it, and… well, here we are…”

“Gile, was it? You saw Brad and Freesia together, looking quite close, did you not?” King Bismarck addressed Gile directly. 

“Explain what you witnessed to my foolish son.”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!”

Gile, clearly overwhelmed by the situation, recounted to Siegfried the details of my outing with Freesia. Siegfried listened, all the while grinding his teeth audibly in frustration.

But Siegfried still refused to admit his wrongdoing, so King Bismarck prepared a second blow. Another figure entered the throne room—a frail elder, supported by a group of younger villagers, who knelt before the king.

“Let me ask you this. Was it this man who saved you?”

King Bismarck pointed at Siegfried as he posed the question to the old man. But the elder, the one I had helped, shook his head firmly from side to side, denying that Siegfried was his savior.

“Father! Are you really going to trust the words of some senile old man?”

“Oh? So, you’re saying the old man is lying…”

“Yes, there’s no way I would ever lie to you, Father.”

And there it is. Another bold-faced lie.

Siegfried, with an air of confidence, declared himself to be pure and innocent before Bismarck. If anyone fits the definition of thick-skinned, it’s definitely him. 

At this point, it’s almost pitiful watching Siegfried try to cover one lie with another.

“Then summon Alex from the House of Kiska.”

“Father, if I may, Alex is my closest ally. There’s no way he would say anything against me.”

Siegfried puffed his chest out with pride, completely assured of his position. I almost want to learn from his baseless confidence, if nothing else.

But when Alex finally arrived, under Bismarck’s orders, his testimony shattered Siegfried’s false bravado beyond repair.

“Your Majesty, I believe what the old man said is true. As frustrating as it is, we were saved by Blood. And Siegfried… well…” 

“Alex! Are you betraying me now!?”

“It’s you who betrayed us, Siegfried! Leon’s family came after me because of your lies, while you acted like you didn’t know anything. Tell me, who’s the real traitor here?!”

Oh boy…

Even his closest ally has finally lost patience with him.

Siegfried, realizing he couldn’t argue with Alex, tried to shift the blame onto me. How pathetic can he get?

“It’s all because of Blood! He’s jealous of my talents and set me up! Father, please believe me! Blood framed me!”

“Siegfried, are you an idiot? If you knew I was setting you up, why didn’t you prepare for it? With that pea-sized brain of yours, there’s no way you could ever surpass me or steal Freesia away—impossible, impossible, impossibleeeeee!”

“Uwaaaaaaahhh!!”

I hadn’t meant to provoke him that much, but it seemed like my words completely broke Siegfried down.

He crumpled to the ground, sobbing pitifully in front of Bismarck. Just as I thought this farce needed to end, I placed my hand on his shoulder, but suddenly felt a sharp pressure in my side. 

When I looked down, I saw Siegfried had tried to stab me with a hidden knife.

sigh Guess I’ll humor him for a bit…

Holding my side and squinting in fake pain, I knelt down on one knee. Siegfried, thinking he had succeeded, immediately began his grand monologue.

“Ahahaha! Father! Look at this! Brad was plotting to deceive and assassinate you! But don’t worry, I’ve taken care of him before he could lay a hand on you!”

Oh, give me a break…

What kind of fool am I dealing with here?

Tired of his obnoxious gloating, I stopped pretending and stood up. Siegfried’s face instantly drained of color as he stumbled over his words.

“Did you really think a mere knife could injure me?”

“Th-that’s impossible! This isn’t just any knife! It’s made of orichalcum, one of the hardest materials known! It should’ve pierced right through you…”

“Siegfried, let me teach you something. A fool is someone who doesn’t learn from their mistakes. Did you really think such a pathetic weapon would harm me?”

At my words, the entire room erupted in applause.

(TL: Brad is basically invincible at this point right? Btw we’re finally getting to ecchi part.)